CCJ3011 Exam 1 study guide Most criminologists focus only on environment Scientific Method 1 State the hypothesis Many criminologists stop here because they believe biological explanations to crime shouldn t be explored 2 Objectively test the hypothesis Many stop here as well because the data isn t available or the researched doesn t know much about the genes biology 3 Decide if hypothesis is supported based on test Standard Social Science Methodologies SSSM behavior used linking social factors to criminal o SSSM cannot rule out a spurious relationship or genetic factors therefore results could be false o X o X Y DIRECT RELATIONSHIP Y SPURIOUS RELATIONSHIP Z place Z Relationship between X and Y disappears once confounding variable in Biosocial criminology relationship between genetics and environment 3 major data sources of crime Official statistics Victimization surveys Self Reported Data UCR Primary source of official crime statistics annually compiled by FBI only includes crimes known by police used mainly to track crime trends Two different types of offenses Part 1 offenses Murder Assault Robbery Burglary GTA etc Part 2 offenses less serious crimes fraud simple assault embezzlement drug abuse etc Index crimes serious crimes violent and property offenses Rape 1 Official data UCR NIBRS NCVS developed to overcome limitations NCVS National Crime Victimization Survey NIBRS National Incident Based Reporting System not official statistic asks about other variables family peer provides explanations to understand crime tells us what we need to change to Dark figure of crime crimes not reported to police underrepresented in UCR Hierarchy Rule Only most serious crime reported If someone stole a car and murdered the owner only the murder would be reported to the UCR of UCR no hierarchy rule so stats are more reliable Also collects more offense types crimes not reported to police by using surveys for people 12 and older Crime trends are based off of NCVS and UCR Self reported surveys relationships personality type etc Serious criminals are not included in this are best for studying serious crimes NCVS and self report surveys better for studying common crimes all types provide a comprehensive understanding of crime Theory reduce crime as well as inform public policy Strong theory cognitive validity or empirical validity Cognitive Theory the criminal has thought about and determined reward outweighs risk Empirical Validity a theory has empirical facts to back up the cognitive validity of the theory how well the data that has been collected fits with the theory and is also correct formal theory uses a variable create relationship statement and establishes a hypothesis Independent variable predictor Dependent Variable Outcome 4 main features in a theory Unarticulated propositions Assumptions about people and human nature policy implications Success of theory is based on Cognitive theory and Subjective theory Levels of analysis for a theory Micro level and Macro level Correlates of crime Age Sex Race as well as labeling behavior as a phenotype which is a measureable characteristic Ex Weight height IQ personality traits Phenotypes measureable characteristics Weight IQ Height Traits etc Variance differences between people Behavioral genetics estimates the phenotypic variance difference between people Breadth Comprehensiveness Precision and Depth the theorist has feelings that they include more informal Behavioral Genetics BG estimate genetic and environmental components of behavior Articulated propositions 3 components of phenotypic variance that uses two siblings from the same household Heritability h difference accounted for by genetic factors at the group level Shared Environment environments experienced equally among siblings family socioeconomic status maternal depression Non shared Environment environments experienced differently among siblings different school different friend group Twin based research uses two types of twins 2 Monozygotic twins MZ identical twins share 100 of genetics Dizygotic twins DZ fraternal twins born together share about 50 of genetics If survey shows MZ twins are more alike than DZ twins in survey that means genetics played a factor DNA Molecular Genetics identifies precise genes that are linked to antisocial behavior determines everything about a person hair color personality eye color etc unlike behavioral genetic research Consists of 2 genetic fibers called polynucleotides which are twisted together Each polynucleotide has 4 nucleotides bases Adenine Thymine Guanine Cytosine not cause behavior Converting DNA into proteins is a two step process will be on test Transcription Gene duplicated onto RNA messenger RNA sequences of base pairs that work in unison to perform certain functions does mRNA leaves cell nucleus and travels to cytoplasm RNA converted into mRNA Genes Translation mRNA attaches to ribosome mRNA protein is Formed performs functions of the cell amino acids produced and added to protein chain ribosome reads genetic info from Genotypic Variance leads to phenotypic variance Genes are stored within chromosomes and humans have 23 pairs Half from mom half from Dad 23 Sex chromosomes females have XX and males have XY determines sex of offspring rd pair Most genes have one version that can be inherited Genetic polymorphisms Genotype genes with two or more alleles or copies specific combination of alleles or alternative copies 1 10 of genes have two or more copies alternative copies are known as alleles Genotypic variance explains phenotypic variances Difference in gene alleles explains differences in people Monogenic effects One gene One disorder Can be predicted for diseases but not cause of antisocial behavior Polygenic effects multiple genes affecting one disorder Pleiotropic effects one gene multiple disorders Neurons nerve cells found in the brain that are responsible for communicating information throughout the body Neurons consist of the cell body axon and dendrites 3 The gap between each axon terminal is called the Synapse Neurotransmitters chemical messengers that relay info across the synapse After action potential neurotransmitters must be removed from synapse by Reuptake Dopamine or Termination Both of which are governed by genes reward system excitatory neurotransmitter associated with feels of euphoria natural Very high low levels associated with maladaptive behaviors Genes involved with dopamine throughout the body are polymorphic more
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